Fracture aligner



Sept. 8,

2 M. H. BLOOMBERG FRAC'IURE ALIGNER Filed Oct. 26, 1940 fl/ax we A! bonde7 By @m m A ttorney Patented Sept. 8, 1942 unis STATES 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improved means for aligning bone fractures inthe limbs and other parts of the body, and the primary object of myinvention is to provide simplified, inexpensive apparatus which isreadily applied and permanently incorporated in the cast covering thefracture.

Other important objects and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom a reading of the following description and the appended drawingwherein for purposes of illustration I have shown a preferred embodimentof my invention.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewtaken through a limb encased in a plaster cast and containing afractured bone, and showing use of the present aligner.

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the aligner.

Figure 3 is a group view showing different shapes of pressure plates forthe aligner.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line4-4 of Figure 2, and,

Figure 5 is an end or side elevational view of a covered form ofpressure plate.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 generally designatesthe fleshy and muscular part of the limb containing the misaligned boneparts 6 and 7, respectively, on opposite sides of the fracture or break8. The'numeral 9 designates the usual cotton or other fabric cushionimmediately contacting the limb and which is enclosed in the usualmanner by the plaster cast 10.

In practicing the present invention one or more windows I I are cutthrough the plaster cast to the cushion 9 to freely accept the pressureplate 13 of the aligner which is generally designated l2, the resultantposition of the pressure plate being predetermined by the bonedisplacement to be effected. In Figure 1, at the left the pressure plateis in position to be operated to deflect the lower bone part 1 towardthe right, while the pressure plate on the opposite side is conditionedto deflect the upper bone part 6 toward the left to achieve alignment ofthe bone parts 6 and I at the break 8.

The pressure plates may be round, square, elliptical, or elongatedrectangular and have flat or curved cross sections in accordance withrequirements. Each pressure plate is characterized by a pad I4 of feltor of rubber or of a combination of these, on its bottom, the pad beingremovably held in place by temporary loops or bands of adhesive tapedesignated l5.

Each pressure plate has a centralized hole l6 formed therethrough toloosely accept the reduced shank ll behind the retaining head IS on thepressure screw l9, whereby the plate is swivelly mounted on and carriedby the screw.

The screw I9 is threaded through the middle of the rigid metal bar 2|]which has angular arms 2! and 22, respectively, projecting from its endstoward the pressure plate and terminating in straight extensions 23, 24,respectively, which are substantially parallel to the main bar 20.

The main bar 20 is held in place over and bridging the window II in thecast ll! by embedding the extensions 23 and 24 in fresh plaster atopposite sides of the windows so as to permanently assemble the alignerwith the cast. The aligner is put on the cast only after the cast hasset and thoroughly dried.

The outer end of the pressure screw !9 has a suitable handle 25 wherebythe pressure pad may be operated with its pad I4 contacting the castcushion 9 to apply the necessary pressure to the fleshy and muscularpart of the limb and thereby to the bone part so as to deflect the boneas required.

Although I have shown and described herein preferred embodiments of myinvention, it is to be definitely understood that I do not wish to limitthe application of the invention thereto, except as may be required bythe scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a plaster cast encasing a limb containing bone partsto be aligned, said cast having a window formed therein at the side of abreak or fracture, a bone aligner comprising a support bridging saidwindow and secured to the cast, a screw threaded in said support, and apressure plate carried by the inner end of said screw within saidwindow, said screw being arranged to be operated to force said pressureplate against the limb exposed by said window to deflect thecorresponding bone part.

2. In combination, a plaster cast encasing a limb containing bone partsto be aligned, said cast having a window formed therein at the side of abreak or fracture, a bone aligner comprising a support bridging saidwindow and having ends anchored in the cast, a screw threaded in saidsupport, and a pressure plate carried by the inner end of said screwwithin said window, said screw being arranged to be operated to forcesaid pressure plate against the limb exposed by said window to deflectthe corresponding bone part.

3. In combination, a plaster cast encasing a limb containing bone partsto be aligned, said cast having a window formed therein at the side of abreak or fracture, a bone aligner comprising a support bridging saidwindow and secured to the cast, a screw threaded in said support, apressure plate carried by the inner end of said screw within saidwindow, said screw being arranged to be operated to force said pressureplate against the limb exposed by said window to defleet thecorresponding bone part, and extensions on the opposite ends of saidsupport, said extensions comprising portions deflected to the same sideof said support as said pressure plate and substantially parallel withsaid support.

4. A fracture aligner comprising a pair of relatively rigid main barsadapted for positioning respectively above and below a fracture atopposite sides thereof, pressure screws threaded through said bars, andpressure plates swivelly mounted on the inner ends of said screws andadapted upon actuation of the screws to exert 10 opposite pressure onthe fracture.

MAXWELL H. BLOOMBERG.

